Cousins LaDainian and Rodney Fields Set to Play Against Each Other for First Time on Saturday

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STILLWATER — The Cowboys will play some former Cowboys this weekend, but it’s going to be especially unique for two players.

Cousins LaDainian Fields (Oklahoma State) and Rodney Fields (Kansas State) will go up against each other for the first time in their lives after Rodney left the program this offseason and transferred within the Big 12 to the Wildcats.

“This game has definitely been circled on my calendar,” LaDainian said Tuesday. “Yeah, we always talked about playing each other, but we know that we both have a season. Both just ready to play each other.”

The cousins closed their high school careers out together at Del City, winning a 5A state title and going 13-1 as seniors.

Then they each came up to Oklahoma State where they played on the same teams in 2024 and 2025, but when Mike Gundy was fired and Eric Morris was hired, Rodney left for Manhattan while LaDainian stayed in Stillwater.

“We wanted to keep Rodney,” Morris said Tuesday. “I mean, obviously watching him as a young back, he’s a really good player and obviously then knowing what we have in Caleb Hawkins, it’s just one of those things. It’s just modern college football right now. It’s cool just for the opportunity for kids. I don’t have a personal relationship with Rodney. I got to talk to him early on and seems like an awesome kid. And so I don’t know enough from a personal standpoint.”

The Fields cousins have had solid seasons, respectively.

LaDainian recorded interception No. 5 on Saturday, tying him for first nationally, when he picked off a first-quarter pass in Ames. It was his fourth pick in OSU’s past three games. If Fields gets one more interception this season, he’ll join Justin Gilbert, Jason Taylor and Darrent Williams as the only Cowboys since 2000 with six INTs in a season.

Rodney is the Wildcats’ leading rusher, having carried 93 times for 487 yards and five touchdowns this season. He opened the season with back-to-back 100-yard performances. At OSU last season, Rodney was one of very few offensive bright spots, running for 614 yards in nine games, which comes out to about 43% of the Cowboys total rushing yards in 2025.

There probably aren’t many people who have seen Rodney play more football than LaDainian.

“I would say his vision,” said LaDainian on what Rodney’s best quality as a ball carrier is. “He has very good vision. I really would say he’s one of a kind, for real. He’s my cousin, for real, so it’s a lot. But his vision is definitely top tier.”

There’s a chance on Saturday that Rodney runs to the outside, and his cousin is there waiting on him.

“I’m about to do what the team wants me to do,” LaDainian said. “I’m going to get him down. About to get him down right there. Hopefully, it’s a loss. If not, you get a couple yards, under three, should be good going to next play.”

OSU will also play against former Cowboys Wendell Gregory and Jacobi Oliphant. Gregory leads K-State with 10.5 tackles for loss and has 3.5 sacks. Oliphant has primarily played special teams and has one tackle for loss on the season.